Thomas snags TD, Ayers on sideline, etc...

[Popps]

Nothing really new here, but... it's offseason...

In the first snap of a full- team, goal-line drill Saturday, Broncos coaches sent rookie wide receiver Demaryius Thomas out with the first- team offense.

Thomas, the Broncos' first draft pick in April's draft, lined up to the far right. At the snap, he cut quickly to his left into the end zone, becoming a big — and open — target for quarterback Kyle Orton.

Touchdown. The players in the white jerseys swarmed Thomas after the score against the starting defense.

"It's going good. It's just little things I'm learning from veterans," Thomas said. "It's little stuff I was doing wrong that I tried to come out and correct today. I think I'm doing OK."

Thomas has participated in only five practices this
offseason after recovering from February foot surgery, but he is impressing coaches with his steady improvement, enough so that he has earned playing time alongside the starters: Jabar Gaffney and Eddie Royal.
"He's dropped a couple of balls, but look, everyone has seen this guy make tremendous catches and then there are some that he's dropped, but I think that comes with playing and knocking off some of the rust," coach Josh McDaniels said. "I think he'll only get better, every day, and today was better than yesterday."

Thomas spent several minutes after Friday's practice talking to former Broncos receiver Rod Smith, and Thomas said he used some of Smith's tips in Saturday's practice.

"It was basically about getting off the line and press and using my body and using my shoulders. That's something I never did before," Thomas said.

Ayers out of action.

Projected starting outside linebacker Robert Ayers was again shut out of team drills, while Jarvis Moss and undrafted rookie Kevin Alexander took reps with the starting defense. Ayers also did not play with the second unit.

McDaniels said it was a "coaches' decision" to keep Ayers on the sideline, and would not elaborate about why Ayers is not participating.

Ayers was the last player off the field, after speaking with linebackers coach Roman Phifer, but he declined to talk to reporters.

Orton the clear leader.

After the second practice of the mandatory minicamp in 2009, McDaniels ended the quarterback competition by declaring Kyle Orton the starting quarterback.

After Saturday's practice, McDaniels said Orton is the starter heading into training camp, yet the situation remains competitive among Orton, Brady Quinn and Tim Tebow.

"That's how it is on every team," McDaniels said. "If someone beats out the starter, he becomes the starter."

Footnotes.

The Broncos ended Saturday's practice — which started and ended in a chilly rain — with a two- minute drill. Orton threw a touchdown pass to Matthew Willis, who made a nice catch in the back of the end zone, on the final play of the two-hour session.

http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_15285910

[Popps]

Merge if double-post... but, nice to see Thomas out there participating. I have a good feeling about the kid...

[Tombstone RJ]

Ayers better start competing. If he's not injured this is not a good sign. When a coach don't want to coach you anymore then that is a red flag.

[Baba Booey]

Rod Smith again helping out our youth.

Methinks Bay Bay will take it to heart a little more than Marshall.

[baja]

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ

Ayers better start competing. If he's not injured this is not a good sign. When a coach don't want to coach you anymore then that is a red flag.

Probably want to get his attention that they want more effort from him.

[HEAV]

Ayers is now with the 2nd team. McD whipping the kid into shape (mental)

[d bronx42]

Word is Demaryius has been making show stopping catches every single practice... It seems any time there is a jump ball Bey Bey comes down with it everytime.

He even beat Champ a few times yesterday.

[gyldenlove]

Thomas is a giant hyperathletic player, if he can get the mental side of the game down, he will be a stud.

[Baba Booey]

Can't wait to see what Bay Bay can do on gameday.

[Chris]

Here comes ma bey bey, here he comes now...

[Popps]

Are these camps open to the public yet? I assume not.

[SoCalBronco]

Originally Posted by d bronx42

Word is Demaryius has been making show stopping catches every single practice... It seems any time there is a jump ball Bey Bey comes down with it everytime.

He even beat Champ a few times yesterday.

I'm glad he's back out there. He's pretty raw so far as route running goes so he needs all the practice time he can get. From Josh's comments, it seems he is progressing quite fast. That's very encouraging. He did have a nagging problem with drops at really inoppurtune times in college, so hopefully they've got him on the Jugs machine after practice. Hey...maybe he can catch all those passes Tebow is throwing after practice.

We just need to get Ed out there, now.

[Dagmar]

From this morning's tweet's it's obvious Ayers did something bad and was being punished, the kind of thing that wouldn't have even gotten reported 10 years ago.

[Denver Bronco56]

How does Thomas compare to Calvin Johnson athletically comming out?

I keep reading and heard about how athletic Thomas is but a few years earlier Johnson was the "freak"

[d bronx42]

Originally Posted by Denver Bronco56

How does Thomas compare to Calvin Johnson athletically comming out?

I keep reading and heard about how athletic Thomas is but a few years earlier Johnson was the "freak"

Besides Bey Bey, Demaryius's nickname at GT was junior Calvin... But to be honest, no one really stacks up to megatron coming out of college. Besides maybe Randy Moss... At 6'5 and 240 lbs that runs in the high 4.2's is literally insane.

But Bey Bey is probably the closest thing to CJ that has come out. There is no doubt in my mind that if Thomas had played a pro style offense and played with a better QB like Calvin did he would have been a top 10 pick. I think if Thomas reaches his potential he has a good shot to be even better than CJ.

[HEAV]

Originally Posted by Denver Bronco56

How does Thomas compare to Calvin Johnson athletically comming out?

I keep reading and heard about how athletic Thomas is but a few years earlier Johnson was the "freak"

Megatron (Calvin Johnson) is taller and faster. But from a athlectic stand point they have the same skill set.

[cabronco]

Originally Posted by Dagmar

From this morning's tweet's it's obvious Ayers did something bad and was being punished, the kind of thing that wouldn't have even gotten reported 10 years ago.

Ya well it could of been a mere scolding, although I know there's a vacancy in the revolving door doghouse now that Hillis was released to an actual pound....time will tell. I do hope Ayers pans out ...

[Br0nc0Buster]

Calvin is a little bigger and faster than DT
But then again Calvin Johnson is the most physically gifted receiver in the NFL

DT has great speed for his size (reportedly ran a 4.38 40 before his foot injury)

Has the potential to be an elite deep threat

[gyldenlove]

Originally Posted by Br0nc0Buster

Calvin is a little bigger and faster than DT
But then again Calvin Johnson is the most physically gifted receiver in the NFL

DT has great speed for his size (reportedly ran a 4.38 40 before his foot injury)

Has the potential to be an elite deep threat

There are only 2 kinds of people in the world, those Calvin Johnson are a little bigger and faster than and those Calvin Johnson is a lot bigger and faster than.